(Easy?) Alternative ways to present photos

skorpiius · Sep 25, 2017

So there a number of art sales throughout the year where I live, and I would like to submit some photography. The thing is it is very rare for anything at these sales to not be 'hand crafted', such as mixed media, paintings on canvas/wood/even records, textile crafts, things made with bones, leather work, etc. Simply selling prints, either alone or matted, didn't seem like a real fit. I decided to instead sell photos printed on canvas, particularly photos which have a sort of 'painting' quality, and have even considered making it a bit of a giclee process with some brushwork, but this feels like the bare minimum.

So my question is, what would be some more 'hand crafted' types of ways to present photographic images, either traditional or digital? Such as unique material to print on, maybe hand coloured images? Maybe some sort of emulsion transfer? Really just open to any ideas. At the moment I'm shying away from darkroom wet printing, but if there's any *killer* technique that relies on that I'm willing to entertain it.

Thoughts?

Bob Carnie · Sep 26, 2017

multiple gum printing is the bomb.

removed account4 · Sep 26, 2017

retina. sun. lumen prints, cyanotypes too
the only one that requires any darkroom or lab-work
might be cyanotypes because you have to coat the material
and rinse it in water, the other stuff it is grab and go and then you
scan your results, no darkroom needed, not even to load the paper
for retina or sun or lumen prints ..
that said, bob's gum prints make me want to do those, they look pretty fantastic.

skorpiius · Sep 26, 2017

Cool thanks, that gives me a few things to look into!

jim10219 · Sep 26, 2017

Locally, I see a lot of prints on sheet metal. I'm not sure how it's done, but they do look pretty cool. It's not really handmade though. But at local art fairs, they seem to be the newest trend and highest selling things going.

If you're wanting to go more handmade, I'd recommend cyanotype, Van Dykes, and gum bicrhromates. They're all fairly easy to do (and not so easy to master). You don't need a darkroom for any of them, but a darkened room with running water will make the process easier.

With the cyanotypes, you can coat wood, fabric, pretty much anything that will absorb water, and expose directly onto that (results may vary). You can also tone them using various household cleaners and products like tea and coffee for unique looks. Van Dykes give that classic sepia tone look. They're only slightly more difficult to pull off, requiring a fixer bath. Gum bichromates are by far the more difficult of the three to do right (and the potassium dichromate solution needs to be handled with care).

adelorenzo · Sep 26, 2017

I've seen Bob's gum prints in person and my mind was blown. Seeing them online doesn't do them justice.

I am now gearing up to start trying my own prints. Bob has some great videos online that take you through the whole process.

skorpiius · Sep 26, 2017

jim10219 said:
Locally, I see a lot of prints on sheet metal. I'm not sure how it's done, but they do look pretty cool. It's not really handmade though. But at local art fairs, they seem to be the newest trend and highest selling things going.

If you're wanting to go more handmade, I'd recommend cyanotype, Van Dykes, and gum bicrhromates. They're all fairly easy to do (and not so easy to master). You don't need a darkroom for any of them, but a darkened room with running water will make the process easier.

With the cyanotypes, you can coat wood, fabric, pretty much anything that will absorb water, and expose directly onto that (results may vary). You can also tone them using various household cleaners and products like tea and coffee for unique looks. Van Dykes give that classic sepia tone look. They're only slightly more difficult to pull off, requiring a fixer bath. Gum bichromates are by far the more difficult of the three to do right (and the potassium dichromate solution needs to be handled with care).

Looks like you there are just internet labs which will print on sheet metal.
What you could do is with the right photos, print on metal, then add things like rivets to add some 3D aspect to it.

removed account4 · Sep 26, 2017

skorpiius said:
Looks like you there are just internet labs which will print on sheet metal.
What you could do is with the right photos, print on metal, then add things like rivets to add some 3D aspect to it.

a lot of pro labs print on aluminium nowadays. they dye sub on them i think .. and they did it because the tintypers were
.. typing on tin

bvy · Sep 26, 2017

Emulsion lifts from instant film are pretty nice. This is 8x10 but it works with smaller formats too.

skorpiius · Sep 26, 2017

bvy said:
Emulsion lifts from instant film are pretty nice. This is 8x10 but it works with smaller formats too.
View attachment 187314

Any idea what films that works with? I currently have a packfilm camera (with FP-3000B and FP-100C), and I have a 600 series Polaroid with no film.

bvy · Sep 27, 2017

skorpiius said:
Any idea what films that works with? I currently have a packfilm camera (with FP-3000B and FP-100C), and I have a 600 series Polaroid with no film.

This only works with integral type instant films, currently made my Impossible Project/Polaroid Originals. They sell film for your 600 camera.

skorpiius · Sep 27, 2017

bvy said:
This only works with integral type instant films, currently made my Impossible Project/Polaroid Originals. They sell film for your 600 camera.

Ok cool, at least I don't have to buy more cameras! hah.

jtk · Dec 20, 2017

I want to try the encaustic technique...unusual look, beautiful, not good with all images.

"easy" depends on your definition

http://phototechmag.com/photo-encaustic-part-i-the-basics-beauty-of-beeswax-photography/

(Easy?) Alternative ways to present photos

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